By Andrew Warshaw
July 17 – Fifteen months after an aggressive report into the way FIFA operates, the Council of Europe appears to have softened its stance towards football’s world governing body.
FIFA said “fruitful” talks were held between the two sides this week on a variety of subjects – in stark contrast with previous clashes.
“It’s been quite a historical moment to welcome a high-ranking delegation from such a respected institution like the Council of Europe,” FIFA president Sepp Blatter said in a statement. “I appreciated very much the spirit of dialogue which prevailed during our meeting.
“It gave us the opportunity to answer the delegates’ questions and provide a lot of information on FIFA and its core missions, as well as an update on our governance scheme, following the overwhelming approval of FIFA’s reform process by the FIFA Congress in May.”
Last year the Council called for an internal investigation of Blatter’s re-election as FIFA president for a fourth mandate in 2011 and criticised FIFA’s role in the infamous ISL bribery scandal.
It said FIFA should “cast full light on the facts underlying the various scandals which, in recent years, have tarnished its image and that of international football.” FIFA said that the report contained a number of inaccuracies.
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